Monday, September 08, 2008

Mandatory Malabrigo®

There are certain things I have no business doing. Many of these things involve donuts and drive-thrus, but one of these things involves casting on new projects when I basically have a six month back log of garments that are patiently waiting in the FO basket, to say nothing of the convenient 'zzzzz' category on Ravelry that has allowed me to relegate the dud WIPs to the bottom of the screen and therefore make them no longer exist. Are you with me?

But there is a chill in the air and really that can only mean one thing: that we have entered Mandatory Malabrigo® season , a time when having a little Malabrigo somethin' on the needles isn't just a good idea, it's required.

My first project, Habitat, is courtesy of Kim, one of my fave blog chicks around. Since I copy everything she does, doing this hat was also mandatory. See how fun life is when you live by a set of categorical imperatives?Pattern: Habitat by Jared FloodSize: Large, for my big Irish headYarn: Malabrigo Worsted in Apricot, .75 of a skeinNeedles: Size 7 and Size 8 addi turbosMods: None needed, although all of that 'move stitch marker' action can make you doubt your sanity.

This is a great pattern that results in a fantastic garment. I cast on for it Friday afternoon and finished early yesterday. Cabling without a cable needle is a must, and after several rows I broke out the colored pencils and color coded the chart, which made time really fly. I recommend this hat as a fun weekend project.

I am on such a roll with the Malabrigo Mania® that I immediately cast on for the Forest Canopy Shawl in Malabrigo Silky Merino 'Acorn'. Doesn't this yarn seem so seasonally appropriate? And the pattern is beyond easy--it makes the Shetland Triangle seem complicated, so if you are afraid of this lace, this might have your name written all over it.

My final Mandatory Malabrigo® moment will be courtesy of LB, the indomitable Larissa Brown, someone for whom I am now on the record as being her number one fan. The record in question is the Y Knit podcast--Hizknits and Wondermike (who is totally coming here next year for Md Sheep and Wool with me and Peeper-Lou, if she gives her final guest list approval, which she most likely will because he can teach her to spin) just released their latest podcast and it features Miss Thing and all her Knitalong glory. It is one of their best ones yet, you really get such a complete sense of what it's like to put together a project such as her book. I have picked up my Mabel's scarf again and am almost done with it. This one is in Bergamota, clearly I am on an orange-fruit roll. Thanks LB!

I am debating about entering these projects into our local farm show, a venue that in the recent past has been one of shame and aggrievance for me. What if the judge sullies my perfect Malabrigo creations with another damning-with-faint-praise third place ribbon? I don't know if I can withstand the disappointment and bad karma that my reaction will likely set into motion...

Mmmmmmm-malabrigo!!! Forget the current WIPs and ZZZZZs . . . you HAVE to cast on some Malabrigo when it gets chilly!!! Go ahead and enter those marvelous projects in the show - but remember, if they don't get the recognition they deserve, it's the judges, not the project. Your karma will be fine. The judges will get the Bad Karma!!!

Love, love, love the hat! That color is gorgeous! And Mmmmmmalabrigo to boot. (I just picked up some Silky Merino from someone's destash on Ravelry. I am addicted to surfing other people's sale/trade pages. I bought yarn from three different people this weekend. But, really, who destashes Malabrigo, anyway?)

I think you should enter the show, but prepare yourself for a Hulk-like rage at the results. (Maybe wear something with Velcro seams?)

The problem with the judging at fairs and farm shows is that there is usually a big emphasis on the perfection of technique -- how even the tension is, how stealthily the ends are woven in, etc. That perspective made sense 150 years ago, when perfect technique was special, but it's a dumbass attitude today when knitting machines can be more perfect than any human. (And no, that's not "IMHO," that is a COMPLETELY OBJECTIVE STATEMENT.) Why ask a person to be a machine?

A better standard is the total effect of the item. Is it beautiful? Does it have the right ration of perfection and imperfection? How do the materials and colors suit the design? In that case the Habitat and the Mabel's should score high. For pieces like those (cool morphologies, cables) too many people use crazy variegated colors. You've got to stick with something luscious and simple so the shapes will come out and people will want to touch it.... at least before you turn green and Bruce Banner the place. :]

Check this out, http://spinknitthefiberqueen.blogspot.com/ 4 of my friends at the LYS entered our Fall Fair and they ALL won ribbons I love seeing other people win stuff, so you HAVE to enter! And I would pay to see you go all "Bruce Banner" on their Arsses

Um, don't you realize that some of us are trying to be good and not cast-on new projects? Why must you taunt us with this Mandatory Malabrigo bullshit? Heather, you know I'm weak. Help a knitter out, will ya?

But TOTALLY enter the contest. You will eventually break them with your insanely soft and pretty knitting. It's working on me, and I'm not even close to touching distance.

(btw I was so chuffed hearing your name being mentioned in the last YKnit podcast. I kept thinking, yay Heather!)